Construction Professional Kevin Reid shares his hardhatOPINION on the private sector's role in helping with South Africa's infrastructure roll out
What are the immediate things the private sector can do to help with SA's infrastructure?
There is a lot the private sector can do immediately to assist in the infrastructure roll out because they have the ability to be flexible and tailor made solutions to suit market needs.
What are the stumbling blocks preventing the private sector to do the above mentioned things to help with SA's infrastructure.
There are many but one that stands out to me is poor representation of engineers in the public sector.
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What is the role of the government in encouraging the private sector to do more?
Policy reform is key to unlocking private sector participation, governments need to review their policies especially when policies relating to the procurement of infrastructure.
Is the government doing enough to encourage the involvement of the private sector in SA's infrastructure?
I don't think the government is doing enough to encourage private sector involvement. I am speaking from a contractor’s perspective, the traditional relationship between client and contractor has always been one of master / servant, with a propensity to be confrontational. Procurement procedures are written around this context which leaves very little room, if any for partnering. The IPP roll-out has been long and laborious and I believe much of this is to do with unreasonable policy and bureaucratic stalling. Having said that, the eventual roll-out is a demonstration that PPP can work.
I know of a number of registered, highly proficient and decorated engineers who are sitting unemployed at the moment and are unable to enter the market due to employment equity policies. Not only does this situation add to the growing list of job-seekers, but it deprives our municipalities and other entities of the ability to offer strategic planning, operational oversight and project controls when projects are floated. These engineers should work as employees of these municipalities to ensure that the client's interests are protected at all times.
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